The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-15
A RIGHT EoUs DECISION.

The effect of the decision is to affirm the con-
viction and death penalty of the lower court
and, so far as now appears, renders it certain
that the condemned men will be hanged in
accordance with the sentence already passed
Their counsel will probably avail themselves
Of any remaining resort the law may afford to
avert or postpone the execution, but with lit
tie or no likelihood of success. The case has
received very careful consideration from the
Supreme Court, and the present decision is
doubtless conclusive and final so far that
tribunal is concerned. Whether it can be
brought before the Supreme Court of the
United States, as the Anarchists counsel in
dictate their purpose to do, remains to be
seen. In any event, this can only result in
prolonging the suspense for short time. The
thorough sitting and investigation which the
case has already received leaves noroom to
doubt that it is settled on solid principles of
law, and will not be dissolved. The present de-
cision is without doubt the most important in
the annals of criminal law in the United
States, Is the case itself is the most cele-
the public mind. A long course of open agi-
tation and secret plotting by the leading An
archists of Chicago, aggravated by murderous
threats and bloodthirsty appeals to their fol-
lowers eliminated the night of 4th May,
1885, in a street fight with the police, and
the throwing of a bomb into their ranks by
which eight were killed fatally wounded.
The events preceding and attending this
wholesale massacre left no doubt that it was
part of plan to terrorize the authorities of
to the principles and teachings of
the Anarchists. It was the first
experience the people of this country had had
of practical application of the bloody, brutal,
murderous ideas imported by European An
archigts. The Haymarket-square explosion
shook the country to its furthest borders
and echoed around the world It was recog-
nized at once and universally as an overt act
of defiance by Anarchists an attack on the
constituted authority, and throwing down
of the gage of battle. It was crisis and test
of popular government scarcely less severe in
it's way than the great rebellion. 1t raised at
once the question whether government and
people that were strong enough to put down
the greatest rebellion the world ever saw
would be weak enough to lie down under the
assaults Of a class of men who teach that all
government is robbery and law an outrage,
and that the only true foundations of
society are rapine, lust and murder.
For, disguise it as they may, this is Anarchism
naked and unadorned. The men who incul-
Gated these doctrines in Chicago by fiery ha-
rangues and bloodthirsty manifestos, also
plotted the Haymarket-square massacre. The
friends of law and order everywhere demanded
that the authors Of the terrible crime be dis
covered and punished The arrest of eight
leading Anarchists, their long trial and final
conviction constituted legal drama that at
tracted the attention of the civilized world.
They were found guilty and sentenced to be
hanged. The verdict and judgment were
an honest jury and just judge
could not have reached any other
conclusion. The decision of the Supreme
Court will be approved with the same unan-
unity. Only Anarchists and they who SYM
pathize with Anarchists will condemn or re-
greet the decision. The friends of law and
order the world over will rejoice at hearing
that the highest court of the State has brushed
as.le the technicalities by which it was
sought to enmesh them, and has affirmed on
hroad yrip cirIaa tho doctrine that +h osa who
plot, plan, counsel and advise the overthrow
of society shall be held responsible for the
direct results of their teaching, and if those
results take the form of murder the conspira-
tors shall suffer the penalty. The decision is
far-reaching in its scope and consequences. 1t
marks a new departure in our criminal
jurisprudence and will stand as leading
case for generations to come, giving notice to
the world that popular government is strong
enough to deal with secret foes as well as
armed enemies, and that while our doors are
still open to the oppressed of all nations they
will not be permitted to practice with impu-
nifty the diabolical principles of anarchism. It
is evident the court felt to its full extent the
solemnity of the occasion and the weight of
responsibility in being called to decide so mo-
mentous D case. Fortunately they were equal
to the occasion, and were not deferred either
BY technical or sentimental considerations
from performing duty for which they de-
serve the thanks of the civilized world.
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THE Georgia man or woman who commits
!he awful crime Of teaching the young idea